Fitting 16" Wheels - spacers required

[MJW1977]

Hi guys, fnially got around to fitting the 16" wheels to the front of the car, but they rub very slightly on right hand full lock - so guess some spacers needed after all.

Is there an "approved" type or spec etc and where would I go to get some? Will I need longer bolts or is it a direct fit?

I gather that the last of the chimaeras had the 16"'s on the front - did they use spacers too?

[raceboy]

I 'think' it's more to do with steering lock than wheel offset, instead of pushing the wheels out you need to reduce the amount of steering lock available.

[V8 GRF]

I've got 16" on the front of the Griff and raceboy is correct all you need is a couple of steering rack stops on the side that the wheel is catching. I assume it is only on one side?

[chrispitman]

Had the same problem, just get some rack spacers basically nylon washers with a cut in them, easy to fit you just have to remove the gaiter at the end of the rack and clip them on.

[MJW1977]

V8 GRF said:

I've got 16" on the front of the Griff and raceboy is correct all you need is a couple of steering rack stops on the side that the wheel is catching. I assume it is only on one side?

Yes, its just the one side that is rubbing slighty on full lock, and then only when slow turning.
Where would i get these from - do they need to be "TVR"?

[V8 GRF]

MJW1977 said:

V8 GRF said:

I've got 16" on the front of the Griff and raceboy is correct all you need is a couple of steering rack stops on the side that the wheel is catching. I assume it is only on one side?

Yes, its just the one side that is rubbing slighty on full lock, and then only when slow turning.
Where would i get these from - do they need to be "TVR"?

That's what happened to mine Offside on slow full lock. They're just plastic washers and can be got from a motorfactors.

[lwt]

3mm spacers from someone such as Rallydesign in Faversham or Demon-Tweeks will do the job for less than a tenner. The lower arm is so thin that you don't really want anything wearing it away. I had exactly the same rubbing (& Mot fail) and this fixed it. When I upgraded the brakes, the new centre (bell) was thicker anyway, so no problem.

Ian.

[S4CJO]

This may be off track here, having now put 16" Estorils on the front to match the rears. Has anyone done anything regarding tyre pressure, currently they are Toyo 225/45 x 16 ZR running 22 psi

[spend]

I would use simple geometry to decide whether you want rack stops or spacers? If the c/l has been changed significantly by the offset/width of the wheel spacers may be required, if it is simply wheel width / tyre profile getting larger then the rack stop is probably the better option.

Dave

[MJW1977]

spend said:

I would use simple geometry to decide whether you want rack stops or spacers? If the c/l has been changed significantly by the offset/width of the wheel spacers may be required, if it is simply wheel width / tyre profile getting larger then the rack stop is probably the better option.

Dave

Sorry if this sounds dumb, but could you clarify a little more pls. What I have done is fit std 16" wheels to the front. The tyres are 205/45/16. When taking the old 15" off I noticed some excessive wear on the inside edge of the old tyres so had all the alignments done - it was exceptionally out on the front left. I had thought the rubbing was just due the wheel being larger?

[RichB]

What Dave means is; what is the offset of the 16" wheel you have fitted? If they are Chimaera 16" rears then the chance is that the offset is different because TVRs used different offsets front & rear.

[MJW1977]

RichB said:

What Dave means is; what is the offset of the 16" wheel you have fitted? If they are Chimaera 16" rears then the chance is that the offset is different because TVRs used different offsets front & rear.

OK thanks, they are 16" standard design Chimaera wheels.

[V8 GRF]

S4CJO said:

This may be off track here, having now put 16" Estorils on the front to match the rears. Has anyone done anything regarding tyre pressure, currently they are Toyo 225/45 x 16 ZR running 22 psi

That sounds too low to me I'm running 26psi all round, feels much nicer.

[spend]

I think what I meant was that I would try & keep the track width (c/l to c/l of the front tyre) very similar. The offset is only relevant when compared with the rim width, so spacers may be required to adjust where the c/l of the wheel is located. If you then have clearance issues because the wheel/tyre is wider, then rack stops may be required. I don't think they are hard & fast rules as we are only talking mm's and the cars bodies vary, but more so do tyre profiles (be it by size or brand). The clearance is also a 3d issue, so it may depend upon your dampers/springs & geometry setup. Do your checks considering the suspension movement, and be prepared to re-evaluate in the future if you change tyre profiles or brand...

Dave

[RichB]

MJW1977 said:

RichB said:

What Dave means is; what is the offset of the 16" wheel you have fitted? If they are Chimaera 16" rears then the chance is that the offset is different because TVRs used different offsets front & rear.

OK thanks, they are 16" standard design Chimaera wheels.

I assume you realise that TVR fitted different offset wheels to the front and rear hence a pair of rear 16" Chimaera wheels will not necessarily be correct for the front of your car? Don't want to teach you to suck eggs but I wondered if perhaps you thought the Chimaera was like most normal cars where the front and rear wheels are interchangeable?

Edited by RichB on Tuesday 26th February 14:11

[MJW1977]

RichB said:

MJW1977 said:

RichB said:

What Dave means is; what is the offset of the 16" wheel you have fitted? If they are Chimaera 16" rears then the chance is that the offset is different because TVRs used different offsets front & rear.

OK thanks, they are 16" standard design Chimaera wheels.

I assume you realise that TVR fitted different offset wheels to the front and rear hence a pair of rear 16" Chimaera wheels will not necessarily be correct for the front of your car? Don't want to teach you to suck eggs but I wondered if perhaps you thought the Chimaera was like most normal cars where the front and rear wheels are interchangeable?

Edited by RichB on Tuesday 26th February 14:11

Actually I did, but only after posting on here and being told fitting rear wheels on the front was a common upgrade.

[lwt]

Mine are 16" std chim rears but on the front. As I said, 3mm spacers sorts the problem. No issues with wheel arch clearance or as suspension travels up/down. I doubt if anyone would feel/notice 6mm track change? (waits to be put right...).

Ian.

[adavy]

i've got 3mm spacers on. no rubbing

[GreenV8S]

adavy said:

i've got 3mm spacers on. no rubbing

That's rather thin for a spacer, surely you would have to be using the original center bore but with the wheel spaced out by 3mm it will hardly have any engagement on it at all?